On the way to the Alchemist Guild, Ya Fei continuously introduced the surrounding scenery and recounted amusing stories to Medusa, like a pair of close sisters. It was a complete departure from their previous rivalry within the Eternal Dream Realm.
Xiao Tian observed the two with a strange expression, silently marveling at how swiftly women could forge friendships, though he could not help but wonder whether these bonds were genuine or merely superficial.
Although Queen Medusa still maintained an icy and aloof expression, a trace of a smile occasionally flickered within her eyes. She was clearly enjoying Ya Fei's warm and attentive care.
Upon arriving at the Alchemist Guild, Xiao Tian presented his guest elder token. The guards, recognizing him as the champion of the current Alchemist Assembly and understanding his purpose, dared not show the slightest disrespect. They promptly escorted Xiao Tian and his companions to the Guild Master's office.
After knocking and hearing a response from within, they stepped through the door the guard pushed open and seated themselves before Fa Ma.
"So it is young friend Xiao Tian. A rare guest indeed! I had assumed you had already departed the Imperial Capital." Fa Ma, the Guild Master, raised his head in surprise to find Xiao Tian seated before him with the two women standing behind.
"I had a few outstanding matters to tend to, so I stayed here a while longer," Xiao Tian replied with a faint smile.
"In what way can this old man assist you? If it is something within my ability, please do not hesitate to ask." Fa Ma stroked his beard kindly.
"I have come this time seeking several ingredients for the Soul Fusion Pill."
"Ingredients for the Soul Fusion Pill? Do you require this pill because your soul is ailing?" Fa Ma asked, startled upon hearing Xiao Tian's words.
"No. It is simply for a friend of mine. I wished to inquire whether you possess the ingredients here."
Fa Ma carefully scrutinized Xiao Tian. Once satisfied that his words were truthful, he slowly rose and made his way toward the enormous shelf behind him.
Countless medicinal texts and records lined the shelves. He flipped through them methodically.
"Young friend Xiao Tian, I am truly sorry. The Guild currently does not possess those ingredients. Not only are the pill's effects rather niche, but the ingredients themselves are exceedingly rare. This old man is powerless to assist. However, I can post an exchange request on your behalf. Perhaps some alchemist out there may have them." Fa Ma shook his head and sighed as he settled back into his seat.
"In that case, I shall trouble the Guild Master," Xiao Tian said.
Xiao Tian left a sound transmission stone for Fa Ma and, to the latter's astonishment, even taught him how to operate it.
Leaving the Alchemist Guild, Queen Medusa's face was filled with disappointment. Observing her expression, Ya Fei linked arms with her and offered quiet words of comfort.
Queen Medusa was never one to wallow in sentiment. She swiftly composed herself.
"Let us go. Let us head back first. There is still ample time. We can certainly gather them. So long as you gather them, I can help you refine them." Xiao Tian gently patted her shoulder. With a wave of his hand, the three of them instantly returned to the Eternal Dream Realm.
The following two days were exceedingly fulfilling for Xiao Tian. He either held multi-person concerts, cultivated, or refined pills. He also made a trip to the Chu Yun Empire to acquire a batch of poisonous medicinal ingredients. The Chu Yun Empire exhibited no irregularities.
"Yun'er, once you refine this origin, you shall obtain a special physique. Then you will no longer have to envy them." Half-reclining with Yun Yun in his arms, Xiao Tian infused the Sword Spirit Body Origin into her.
Xiao Tian had long noticed that whenever they practiced cultivation or honed Dou Techniques, she was deeply envious of the others' special physiques. Though subtle, Xiao Tian had still detected it.
Cai Li's Nine-Colored Sky Swallowing Python. Xiao Yi Xian's Calamity Poison Body. Qing Lin's Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils. Ya Fei's Frozen Spirit Body. Only she possessed an ordinary physique.
Watching their cultivation speeds, she had also felt a mounting sense of urgency.
"What is this?" Yun Yun propped herself up, sensing a sphere of light within her Dantian, saturated with razor-sharp sword qi.
"This is the Sword Spirit Body Origin. Refine it, and you shall possess a special physique. And this is the cultivation method most compatible with it—the Wind Elegance Sword Dance."
The Wind Elegance Sword Dance was far more than a cultivation method. It encompassed numerous fundamentals of swordsmanship—thrust, slash, sweep, hook, parry, and point. The method involved comprehending the sword itself. One could even derive one's own suitable sword techniques from it.
It also included a domain-type Dou Technique, the Wind Elegance Sword Domain. When deployed, it would manifest a domain of crisscrossing sword qi around the user, with wind blades descending like torrential rain, leaving those trapped within struggling to cope.
"Truly?" Yun Yun's eyes instantly lit up, and a wave of giddiness washed over her. The surprise had caught her completely off guard.
Her entire body bolted upright and swayed unsteadily.
Unable to restrain himself, Xiao Tian initiated a fresh concert.
An hour later, Xiao Tian dressed and strode out of the room, leaving Yun Yun seated cross-legged upon the bed, refining her new physique.
Watching Queen Medusa and Xiao Yi Xian relentlessly drill Qing Lin and Ya Fei, a satisfied smile surfaced on Xiao Tian's face.
Currently, Xiao Yi Xian stood at the peak of the four-star Dou Ancestor realm and was on the verge of breaking through to five-star. Queen Medusa was a peak one-star Dou Ancestor.
Qing Lin had already reached the Dou Spirit level, and Ya Fei was a five-star Great Dou Master. Both had consumed the Three-Pattern Azure Spirit Pills Xiao Tian had provided.
"Tsk, tsk. Is this not a certain busybody? Finished with your work? And you actually emerged unscathed."
This teasing remark, without a doubt, could only have come from Queen Medusa.
"My body is in excellent condition. Absolutely superb." Three black lines appeared on Xiao Tian's face as he regarded Queen Medusa, who once again displayed a glimmer of her playful side.
Ever since she had grown familiar with the others, he felt her queenly aura had vanished utterly. Naturally, that was only the case here. Outside, she still maintained her full regal bearing.
"All of you, continue. I am going out to handle some affairs." Xiao Tian cut directly across Ya Fei and Qing Lin's desperate hopes of escaping their ordeal. Ignoring their pleading stares, he turned and strode away.
If he did not leave soon, Queen Medusa might find a pretext to spar with him and beat him senseless. The odds were not in his favor. It was time to flee.
"Ah! No..." Ya Fei and Qing Lin wailed in despair.
"What, are you displeased with me helping you practice your Dou Techniques?" Queen Medusa fixed the two with a dangerous glare. Her icy voice seemed to drift from the depths of the Nine Nether Hell.
Instantly, the two shrank into small, helpless figures, trembling as they forced smiles onto their faces.
"Sister Cai Li, you are the very best! I adore you, and Sister Xian'er too!"
In that single heartbeat, their will to survive detonated. If the two of them were forced to endure a double beating, it would truly be excruciating.
Striding farther away, Xiao Tian observed their harmonious appearance. A grin spread across his face, harder to suppress than an AK on full auto. His fish pond was stable. The sea king was safe. He silently thanked Brother Cheng's spirit in heaven for its blessings.
Xiao Tian paid no further attention and materialized directly upon the Dou Qi Continent.
He arrived at the Mitel family estate and sought out Tengshan and Elder Hai. As for Xiao Yan, he had departed early, claiming he was returning to the family.
"Elder Hai, Elder Tengshan, are all preparations complete?" Xiao Tian asked without preamble as he approached the two.
"Everything stands ready. We can depart at any time. However, there are quite a number of people, along with their possessions and family members. Are you absolutely certain there will be no complications?"
"Let alone fewer than a thousand, even ten thousand would pose no issue whatsoever." Xiao Tian waved his hand dismissively, signaling that such concerns were unwarranted.
Xiao Tian had already partitioned the Eternal Dream Realm into designated regions and had even allocated areas for the structures within it.
He had completely redesigned the entire Eternal Dream Realm.
At the heart of the entire world stood five colossal peaks, interwoven with one another. Xiao Tian intended to establish a grand protective formation later, though it was a pity the system was merely an artificial intelligence. Otherwise, he might even have managed to borrow one.
Xiao Tian's palace complex crowned the tallest central peak. Numerous other palaces were situated along the mountainside, which Xiao Tian had prepared for his future descendants. The remaining four peaks were all of equal height.
The Xiao family would occupy one peak. The Heaven Suppressing Hall's inner hall and outer hall would each claim another. The final peak remained temporarily vacant.
Beyond the peaks lay several city-like structures designated to house sect members, family members, and other residents.
*Should this small world later be written into the Great Thousand Worlds, it shall merge with the Great Thousand Worlds and become a domain.*
"Then gather everyone together. I will take them in," Xiao Tian instructed the two.
"Yes, Hall Master." They responded in unison.
The two acted decisively, immediately mobilizing their forces.
At that very moment, within the Eternal Dream Realm, at the summit palace complex of the highest mountain, inside Xiao Tian's bedchamber—
"Boom!"
A blade of razor-sharp sword qi shot into the heavens, instantly tearing a gaping hole through the palace roof.
The four women practicing martial arts were startled by the sudden detonation, their hands trembling involuntarily.
Staring at the sword qi that pierced the sky, and then at the ruined palace roof, the four exchanged mischievous grins.
"Oh no, Xiao Tian's palace has exploded! Someone is in serious trouble now."